Wikliam reichbkt



Dec- 8; 1925- 1.565.201

. w. REICHERT FLUE CLOSER Original File March 29, 1925 WITNESS:

Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

written stares WILLIAM REICI-IERI, OF SHENANDOAH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FL'UE CLOSER.

Application filed March 29, 1928, Serial No. 628,587.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILMAM Rniorinn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shenandoah, in the county of Schuylkill, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flue Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flue closers and has for its object the provision of a novel device designed to be inserted in a flue opening subsequent to the removal of the stove pipe therefrom for the purpose of sealing the fine and preventing the escape of water and soot in case of chimney fires, the device operating to prevent this water, dirt and other matter from flowing into the room or building when the chimney is flooded with water to extinguish the fire.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to apply, efficientand positive in operation, durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

YVith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device showing it mounted in a flue opening,

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings the letter A designates a chimney hav ing the usual flue B therein, and O designates the flue opening in which the stove pipe is ordinarily engaged. In the event of a fire in the chimney it is of course necessary that water be poured thereinto to extinguish the fire and under ordinary circumstances this water flows into the stove pipe, floods the stove associated therewith and pours out into the room where the stove is located, the dirt naturally ruining whatever is in the room. In carrying out my invention I provide a device for sealing the flue and yet permitting the water to be carried 0E through a hose or the like.

In carrying out the invention I provide a cylindrical member 10 designed to be inserted into the flue opening C subsequent to the removal of the stove pipe therefrom. At one end this member 10 is formed with a lat- Renewed May 4, 1925.

oral extension 11 externally threaded as shown at 12 for engagement thereon of the coupling of a hose or the like. Secured upon the end of this member 10 which extends into the flue is a reinforcing ring 18 on which are hinged, as shown at 14, arms 15 to which are hinged, at 16, links 17 pivotally connected by a rule oint 18 which is engaged and held within a yoke 19 swivelly mounted upon one end of an operating shaft 20 which extends centrall through the member 10 and which has its outer end provided with a crank handle 21. Near its outer end this shaft 20 is formed with a threaded portion 2:2 which screws through a threaded bush- .ing 23 in the outer end wall of the member 10.

The intermediate portion of the member 10 is externally threaded as shown at 24 and engaged thereon is a collar 25 carrying a handle 26.

In the use of the device, assuming that the stove pipe has been removed from the flue opening, the crank handle 21 is turned in a counter clockwise direction to retract the shaft 20, whereupon the rearward movement thereof will break the joint 18 and swing the links 17 so that they will extend at an acute angle to each other. done, the arms 15 will extend substantially co-cxtensive with the member 10 which will permit them to be inserted into the flue opening. As the device is thus placed in position, the crank handle 21 is turnedin a clockwise direction which will result in inward movement of the shaft 20 and this will cause straightening out of the links 17 into the position shown by full lines in Figure 1. The arms 15 naturally engage against the edge of the flue where the flue opening is located and will prevent the device from being withdrawn from the fine. The operator then grasps the handle 26 and turns the collar 25 in a clockwise direction to jamb the packed face 27 thereof against the wall and this naturally forms a seal. Water poured into the chimney to extinguish the fire therein cannot then escape from the fine but may be withdrawn through any hose which is connected with the extension 11.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simply constructed and consequently inexpensive and easily installed device which will eifectively operate to prevent damage to a room or When this is building when the chimney is flooded to extinguish a fire therein. Owing to the simplicity of the construction and the fewness of the parts it is apparent that there is nothing to get out of order so that the device should have a long life and satisfactorily perform all of its functions.

Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes-in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising an elongated cylindrical member disposed within a flue opening, a collar screwed onto said cylindrical member and bearing against the outer surface of the wall at the flue opening, a ring secured within the inner end of said cylindrical member and carrying ears, arms pivotally connected with said cars, a nut member mounted in the outer end of the cylindrical member, a rod screwed through said nut member and equipped with turning means, a yoke swiveled upon the inner end of the rod, and links pivotally connected with the free ends of said arms and pivotally connected with each other Within the confines of said yoke.

2. A device of the character described comp-rising an elongated hollow cylindrical member extending into a flue opening, means on said member engaging the outer wall of the fine for preventing excessive inward movement of the member, the outer wall of said member being closed and carrying a bearing, a rod extending longitudinally of said member and screwed through said hearing, a handle for turning said rod, a yoke on the inner end of said rod, a plurality of radially extending links connected by a rule joint located within said yoke, and arms pivotally connected with links and pivotally connected with the inner end of said hollow cylindrical member.

3. A flue closer comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical member inserted within a flue opening, a plurality of arms hinged upon the inner end thereof, other arms hingedly connected with the free ends of said first named arms and pivotally connected by a rule joint, an operating shaft extending axially of said member and screwed into the outer end thereof, a yoke swiveled upon the inner end of said shaft and embracing said rule joint, and means on said member engageable with the outer Wall of the fine for preventing outward movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM REICHER'I.- 

